Americans react: willing to accept aid
Some Americans accepted government relief willingly and were not opposed to the federal aid. These people also accepted the expanding federal government and supported FDR’s New Deal, as well as his liberal policies. The section of the public that were in support of aid and believed relief was helpful and successful.
Many farmers applied for drought relief through the Works Progress Administration, a New Deal program. This photo was taken in July of 1936 in Mandan, ND. It shows the process of waiting in line to be help. The farmers in the image look a little confused about the process but the significance is the fact that these men are accepting the aid offered to them. As many people are too prideful to receive help from the government, this image discloses that there were people in support of these types of programs
The WPA offered a wide variety of aid, and one of its programs was free classes that farmers or migrants could take and be trained in different career areas. This image shows young men learning how to work on automobiles in a WPA sponsored class. This is a shift in ideals. Instead of just finding whatever work that was available, these men are pursuing new long term work instead. Their acceptance and support of a different type of government aid is viewed as successful.
National Youth Administration class in Phoenix, Arizona, 1936
National Youth Administration class in Phoenix, Arizona, 1936